Clementine
Neil Young & Crazy Horse Lyrics

In a cavern, in a canyon,
The setting was deep and dark like a cave, in a narrow valley or a deep-floored gorge.

Excavating for a mine,
Digging deep into the earth to extract precious metals or minerals.

Dwelt a miner forty niner,
Lived a man of forty-nine years who worked as a miner in the cave.

And his daughter Clementine
The miner had a daughter named Clementine.

Light she was and like a fairy,
Clementine was a young lady who was delicate, graceful, and pretty like a mythical creature.

And her shoes were number nine,
Clementine wore shoes that were size nine.

Herring boxes, without topses,
Clementine carried her shoes in boxes used to store and transport herring, but the boxes didn't have lids.

Sandals were for Clementine.
Clementine wore sandals, which are a type of open-toe footwear.

Clementine! Clementine!
The chorus repeats Clementine's name in a mournful tone.

Oh my darling, Clementine!
The artist expresses their love and affection for Clementine, calling her their darling.

Drove she ducklings to the water
Clementine led ducklings to the water each morning, probably as a routine or dutiful task.

Every morn just at nine,
The ducklings were taken to the water every morning at nine o'clock sharp.

Hit her foot against a splinter,
Clementine accidentally injured her foot by stepping on a small piece of wood.

Fell into the foaming brine.
Due to her injury, Clementine lost her balance and fell into the churning seawater.

Ruby lips above the water,
Clementine's bright, red lips were visible above the water's surface.

Blowing bubbles, soft and fine,
Clementine's breathing caused bubbles to rise from the water's surface in a delicate and smooth manner.

But, alas, I was no swimmer,
The artist was not skilled in swimming and thus could not save Clementine from drowning.

So I lost my Clementine.
Clementine tragically drowned and the singer couldn't save her, leaving them forever saddened by her loss.

And the minor forty niner
The miner became distraught over the death of his daughter.

Soon began to peak and pine
The miner grew increasingly anxious, distressed, and became visibly weak from the loss of his daughter.

Thought he oughta join his daughter,
The miner decided to take his own life, perhaps to be with his departed daughter.

Now he's left with Clementine
The miner's death left behind his belongings, including Clementine's unwanted sandals.

In my dreams she still upon me,
The singer still dreams about Clementine, and she appears in them.

Broken garments soaked in brine,
In the artist's dreams, Clementine's clothing is ripped and soaked in saltwater, symbolic of her tragic death.

Though in life I used to hug her,
Before Clementine's death, the singer was affectionate and hugged her.

In death I draw the line
The singer will not go as far as to hug Clementine's lifeless body, showing they have accepted her death.

How I missed her! How I missed her,
The singer expresses their regret over not being able to save Clementine and how they miss her deeply.

So I kissed her little sister,
Out of desperation, the artist kissed someone else, probably Clementine's younger sister. It's unclear whether this was just to replace her or was an act of grief-induced confusion.

And I forgot my Clementine.
The artist forgets about Clementine in that brief moment but immediately regrets it.

Clementine! Clementine!
The chorus repeats Clementine's name, reflecting the singer's ongoing grief.

You are lost and gone, Clementine!
Clementine is gone forever, and nothing can bring her back.